Page | Vanderbilt signs with UK: What it means

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Jarred Vanderbilt is officially a member of the University of Kentucky basketball program.

The five-star small forward, ranked the No. 14 player in the 2017 class by Scout.com, signed his letter of intent on Monday, days after suffering an apparent leg injury at the Jordan Brand Classic over the weekend.

There’s still no word on the severity of Vanderbilt’s injury, but here’s why Kentucky’s sixth member of the ’17 class is an important addition:

► The idea of a 6-foot-9, versatile player like Vanderbilt is too enticing not to insert into the starting lineup. Last season, Kentucky rolled with Isaiah Briscoe at the No. 3 position 50 percent of the time, and Malik Monk spent another 31 percent of the minutes there.

That means players standing 6-foot-3 logged 81 percent of the minutes at the 3, which fit the Wildcats’ up-tempo identity and mostly helped offensively. But when 6-foot-8 scorers like North Carolina’s Justin Jackson showed up, Kentucky had issues defensively and was forced to adjust. Throw in that Kentucky played Derek Willis and Wenyen Gabriel at the 4 – two players not known for defense and lacking traditional bulk in the interior – and Kentucky could have issues defending and matching up with bigger teams.

Vanderbilt is one of many reasons the Wildcats figure to play differently in 2017-18. He is 205 pounds, can handle the basketball, create his own shot, defend multiple positions and is improving his range. He averaged 28.5 points, 13.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists as a senior at Houston’s Victory Prep Academy, and received positive reviews for his play in practices at the McDonald’s All-American game last month.

► Kentucky may not be as skilled this season as it has been previously, but it will be more athletic and versatile.

The past two seasons, John Calipari has played three-guard lineups: Tyler Ulis, Jamal Murray and Briscoe and De’Aaron Fox, Monk and Briscoe. Before that, Calipari went big, with Trey Lyles (6-10, 235) predominately at the 3 in 2014-15 and small with James Young (6-6, 215) in 2013-14. To put it simply, Lyles was built and played like a 4 and Young more of a 2.

So it appears Vanderbilt would be the first “NBA prototypical small forward” at Kentucky in quite some time. If he recovers and continues to blossom, he’ll become part of athletic, long, versatile lineups that should open the door for Calipari’s creativity to mix and match.

► Vanderbilt’s recent injury and his history of foot/ankle/leg injuries, though, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s improving stock has me thinking through possible scenarios if, for whatever reason, Vanderbilt needs time to become a major contributor.

Calipari could go “small” with: Quade Green, Gilgeous-Alexander, Hamidou Diallo. That would give the Wildcats two point guards on the floor and improve shooting – guard Jamarl Baker also fits into this scenario, too.

In these cases, think of Diallo as the Briscoe/Young type in the multiple guard look and Washington as Lyles, playing as a forward capable of defending bigger or smaller players.

Once again, I’ve taken what-if and hypothetical highways down a rabbit hole with endless possibilities. At this point in the calendar, that’s where things stand: Where potential has yet to be fulfilled and optimism can’t be discredited.

Players like Vanderbilt could help Kentucky create and play with a new identity, next season and beyond.